ABC News reported that on Wednesday, Feb. 5th, President Trump signed his fourth executive order regarding transgender people since he took office. The order, ABC reports, is entitled “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order” and is aimed at banning transgender women from women’s sports. However, the order did not ban transgender men from men’s sports.
On Thursday afternoon, the National Collegiate Athletic Association updated their website regarding the trangender student-athlete policy, stating that students assigned male at birth are restricted from participating in women’s sports. According to an article posted to the NCAA’s website on Feb. 6th, in addition to the policy announcement, the President of NCAA, Charlie Baker made statement Thursday,
“This national standard brings much needed clarity as we modernize college sport for today’s student-athletes.”
CNN announced in an article on Feb. 5th that the Trump administration will be working with the International Olympic Committee to ensure compliance of the order is present even in noneducational environments. The order has also impacted visa policies as the government has instructed officials to deny any visa applications made by transgender athletes who are trying to enter the country for sports related events.
In addition to this executive order, just ten days into his term, President Trump ordered federal agencies to implement a transgender bathroom ban, banning transgender individuals from single-sex spaces that correspond with their gender identity. The Trump administration also ordered that transgender people and anyone working under “gender ideology” be fired.
Leo Ingham, a transgender man at Pace University shared his thoughts regarding the Trump administration’s new laws.
“The biggest feelings I have had since Trump has taken office and implemented the new laws definitely is isolation and fear. My Hormone Replacement Therapy is (and top surgery was) covered through my healthcare which is paid through federal funding, if my health insurance didn’t cover my HRT (which it might not be able to anymore) I won’t be able to afford it.”
Ingham wants people to know that the transgender community will remain vigilant and secure in their identities.
“The biggest way to combat this systematic oppression of trans people is through perseverance and happiness. No matter how many laws he creates to try and write us out of existence we will always be here,” he said.
Since the signing of the “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order,” President Trump hosted the Governor’s Working Session at the White House on Feb. 21st. CNN reported that during this meeting, Trump addressed the US governors and discussed ongoing negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He also talked about his recent executive orders, specifically those regarding transgender people.
According to CNN, during the discussion about the executive order, the president and the governor of Maine, Janet Mills (D-ME) got into a heated exchange about complying with the No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order. In a video of the discussion posted by C-SPAN on Youtube, Trump asked Mills if Maine was complying with the federal law and said,
“You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t… Your population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports,”
To which Mills replied:
“See you in court.”
McKenzie Fitzgerald, an HU first-year political science major, described President Trump’s manner of speaking at the event as “inappropriate and disrespectful.” She felt his statement was unprofessional and inappropriate.
“Public figures, especially those in positions of power, have a responsibility to set a positive example through their words and actions,” she said.
She also believed that it may be difficult for Mills to contest Trump’s statements.
“I believe that Mills faces an uphill battle in court against Donald Trump. Despite being found guilty of 34 felonies, Trump still holds the presidency, highlighting how the legal system often bends to accommodate him and his unjust actions,” said Fitzgerald.
In a statement released last week, on the State of Maine official website, Mills said:
“In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this or tries to act like it– and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.”
According to Mills, Trump cannot withhold Maine’s share of federal funding until it complies with his unilateral ban on transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.
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